If you’ve ever hired a production company, you’ve probably seen “production manager” or “technical director” on the crew list. But what do those people actually do — and why does it matter for your event?
The Short Answer
A production manager makes sure every technical element of your event works together — audio, lighting, staging, power, rigging, video, crew, logistics, timeline. Single point of accountability for the entire production. Something goes wrong, they fix it. Something changes, they coordinate it. Everything goes perfectly and nobody notices? That’s the job done right.
Before the Event
Most of a production manager’s work happens before anyone sets foot in the venue.
System design. Based on the venue, headcount, event format, and creative vision, the PM designs the production — speaker type and placement, lighting rig, staging dimensions, power requirements, signal flow. Not guesswork. Physics of the space and technical requirements of the show.
Technical documentation. Stage plots, input lists, power distribution, rigging calculations, equipment manifests, load-in schedules. For municipal events, this often needs to accompany permit applications. For corporate events, it ensures the venue knows what’s coming and when.
Vendor coordination. Multiple vendors — staging, rigging, video, catering, venue ops — the PM coordinates between all of them. Load-in schedules, power sharing, space allocation, communication protocols. All sorted before show day.
Advance work. Site visits to assess the venue, verify power, identify rigging points, check load-in access, and confirm the production plan works in the real space.
Day-of Execution
On event day, the PM runs the show from a technical standpoint.
Load-in management. Gear arrives in the right order, crew deployed efficiently, setup timeline stays on track. A well-managed load-in looks calm. A poorly managed one looks like chaos — and delays the rest of the day.
Show calling. During the event, the PM calls cues — lighting changes, mic opens, segment transitions. This coordination is what makes an event feel polished vs. choppy and improvised.
Problem-solving in real time. Things change on show day. Speaker drops out. Presenter brings the wrong laptop adapter. Timeline shifts 20 minutes. The PM handles it without the client thinking about it — that’s the point.
Strike and load-out. Breaking down efficiently and clearing the venue on time. Venues charge overtime — a slow load-out means unexpected costs.
Why It Matters for Your Event
Events without production management are events where everyone is their own coordinator. The planner troubleshoots a mic issue. The venue manager argues with the lighting company about power. The band sets up in the wrong spot because nobody gave them a stage plot. Small problems cascade because nobody owns the technical execution.
A production manager is cheapest problem you’ll never see — because they prevent the expensive problems before they happen.
Do You Need One?
Not every event requires a dedicated PM. A simple corporate meeting with a podium mic and a projector probably doesn’t. But if your event has multiple technical elements, a detailed timeline with cued transitions, multiple vendors on site, outdoor deployment with compliance concerns, or high-stakes presentations where failures aren’t acceptable — a PM pays for itself.
At AKA, production management is built in — not an add-on. When you hire AKA for corporate events, festivals, or municipal events, you get an engineer-led team handling the full scope from advance through strike.
Need Production Management for Your Event?
Contact AKA Event Productions — full-service production design and management for events across Colorado.